A 15-minute walk takes 20 minutes in the car

May 5, 2010

Updated: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 (11:37)

I AM writing in relation to your interesting article on the front page of The Hunts Post about the rise in traffic congestion on Hinchingbrooke Park Road and inviting views (April 28). I live in Christie Drive, near the Forensic Science Service, and I hav

I AM writing in relation to your interesting article on the front page of The Hunts Post about the rise in traffic congestion on Hinchingbrooke Park Road and inviting views (April 28).

I live in Christie Drive, near the Forensic Science Service, and I have done since the new estate was built five years ago and I have seen the traffic on Hinchingbrooke Park Road getting steadily worse and worse and worse to the point where I have difficulty, during the day at home time, getting down my road to get to my home.

I commute to work from Huntingdon station and what is, normally a five minute drive, can take 20 or so minutes which is pretty ridiculous when it only takes 15 minutes to walk.

I think the main problem on this road is people who turn right from Hinchingbrooke Park Road towards Brampton. It only takes one car at those traffic lights to bring the whole road to a standstill. The traffic is just not able to flow for any considerable time. The council really should be widening that bit of the road urgently so the Brampton turnoff has its own filter lane and it doesn't affect people who are driving towards Huntingdon.

I have thought this for years and I genuinely believe that this will cut down a lot of the daily congestion on this road - it is the most congested road in the area. You have the police HQ, the fire HQ, the hospital and the school. Thankfully, it looks like the technical college will not be moving there now or the whole of that area would be impassable!

My other problem, and that of my fellow neighbours, is that now that the council have painted yellow lines up to the entrance of the FSS, visitors to the hospital, who want to avoid paying for their parking, have started parking their cars right down Christie Drive. This causes congestion, potential danger to other car drivers because of bad visibility and annoyance to the residents who choose to live there for the peace and quiet.

All these factors contribute to making what once was a very exclusive, quiet away-from-it-all part of Huntingdon into an undesirable, gridlocked, busy, somewhat dangerous part of Huntingdon.

I hope the new MP, whoever they might be, can take on these issues with the council.